Jillian Michaels: Shred It With Weights [DVD]

Good quality DVD. Arrived perfect condition.

I absolutely love Jillian Michaels, and I absolutely love my kettlebells.Before this DVD I had only used kettlebell workouts from fitness magazines, but they had served me very well and I had gotten to know my kettlebells quite well. I had avoided buying this DVD because I thought it was just weights and I wanted a strength/cardio combo like most of Jillian's DVDs. I hadn't noticed the kettlebell in her hand on the DVD's cover. And as soon as I did, I bought it immediately.I don't consider myself advanced with kettlebells, but, as I said, I knew my way around them and had a set of 4 (2-8kg) already, so I was well-equipped for the DVD. So I considered myself intermediate.Even so, I paid attention to everything she said about the different ways of holding the kettlebell, form and control, and I can say that it's a really good place to start if you're new to kettlebells. She explains and demonstrates everything perfectly and confirmed that what I'd been doing in the magazines was correct.There are two back-up exercisers, two lovely ladies you'll recognise from Yoga Meltdown if you've used that DVD. The advanced exerciser uses a kettlebell like Jillian and does advanced versions of the movements, while the other woman uses a dumbbell and performs beginner modifications of each movement. By holding the dumbbell length-ways you create similar length to a kettlebell but at a lower weight, which makes this DVD usable even if you don't have kettlebells. A single heavy dumbbell - about 4kg - would do brilliantly.But kettlebells ARE different to dumbbells. Their shape and weight distribution is quite different to a dumbbell even if it's held length-ways, and, as a result, by using a dumbbell you're not going to get as much out of the workout, but that's not to say that it will be ineffective. You will still get a lot out of it, just not as much as you could.As Jillian states in the DVD, kettlebells are amazing because they combine strength AND cardio in every single movement, so you can burn more calories and melt more fat at the same time. The back of the DVD says that each section is approximately 25 minutes - that is the case when adding warm-up and cool-down, but the main workout itself is more like 20 minutes (unless I've gotten confused and it says 30 minutes, in which case it's more like 25).There are two different kettlebell workouts on this DVD, but there is a drastic difference between the two. As I said a couple of times already, I knew my way around kettlebells and a number of moves already when I bought this DVD. And so I found the first level adequate. It was still a challenge, and for those moves that weren't quite challenging enough I finally braved a heavier kettlebell and it made it suitably more difficult. But at the same time I was confident that, had this been my first taste of kettlebells, I'd have been using my 2kg and 4kg and it would have been just perfect to introduce me to the kit, form and workout in general. As it was, however, I was using my 6kg and 8kg for the most part, and 4kg for just one move.But then there was the second level, and it knocked me right down to 4kg and 6kg and I've got no hope of moving beyond that for a while. It was intense and the difference in difficulty between the two levels was surprising. But I loved it even if it hurt. Exercise is not supposed to be so easy you can breeze through it, you're supposed to struggle. If you're not struggling then you're not challenging your body, and if you're not challenging your body then it's not being forced to change, be that shedding fat or building muscle.In short, this DVD is one of my favourites, and it's a suitable introduction if you're new to kettlebells, as well as being suitable to those who already know their way around it. As with any strength workout, if it starts getting too easy, increase the weight and you can raise the intensity. In the DVD Jillian is using her own kettlebells and they have a wonderful design by being able to add plates to adjust the weight, making them really good for space-saving. However, for the vast majority of kettlebells out there, they're set weights like dumbbells, and if you want more weight, you need a new kettlebell.

WOW. What a fantastic workout. I do kettlebells a lot. Was looking for a more advanced workout. Well I can honestly say this workout hurts. It really builds up a sweat. I did both of the half hours straight after each other. Was hard but I really enjoyed it. Loved the way she showed you how to do the moves properly. It’s a must buy.

This the second Jillian Michaels workout video I have purchased. The first one was Killer Buns and Thighs which I really love although I have never gone beyond level 1. Level 1 is MUCH harder than level 1 and frankly I don't have the balance and coordination (or the space in my lounge) to go beyond this. However, level 1 is great and giving me the results I set out to achieve - that is to get a more shapely butt and stronger thighs. Shred-it is lovely because it is only a 30 minute workout (unlike the former which is 45), so if I am pushed for time this is the one I head for. It is not a very difficult workout (I'm still on level 1) but I find that the more I do it, the better I get at it, and the harder it becomes. I am not that keen on the kettle bell, particularly for some of the exercises. It is unwieldy when used with some of the movements using only one arm. Having said that you can replace it with a normal dumbbell, which I have started doing in some of the exercises. I've watched level 2 and it looks doable and I'll move onto that it in a couple of weeks. I adore Jillian. I love her personality and sense of humour and she delivers a great workout. Her abs workout is on my wishlist.

I have recently gone off gyms and have got into home exercise - but with lots of variety - in duration and style of workout. Weights ticks my boxes as I really sweat during a weights session and have reached that age where I need to use weights. I also like to get a lot of workout in the shortest of time - HIIT is great for this and so is major calorie burner Kettlebell. Also I own a 6kg one - so need to use it.Workout 1 was brilliant. It’s suitably hard but with options - plus of course reducing the weight. (I also have hand weights) It would surely work for anyone as it’s a question of the weight you use? The Russian get ups are hard but I used to do these with my PT and it’s all do-able. I felt well worked and sweaty after! I also like Jilian’s Style. It should irritate me as she’s very ‘in your face’ and American but I liked her enormously and didn’t mind (even after the 6th hearing)! It also doesn’t require too much space so can be done upstairs in my small room set up for workouts. I especially like the cool down 🤓🤪. but that figures!It loses a mark (and i’d Like to give it 5) but today I tried the second workout and it’s really really hard. Starjumps with a kettlebell!!? And various other exercises that were either too fast for me or I was unsure of what they were actually doing. The press ups for example. I spent so much time working out where the kettlebell should be - probably not on my hand as press ups work just fine without weights. (Or was it a plank?) anyway it was hard and I felt deflated when it was over. I felt I had only partially done it yet my body was screaming for a rest. So, simpler technique and let us make it harder with greater weights? Mine is 6k and that’s plenty for me. I’ll just do workout 1 in future and alternate with other dvds.Update - I just did level 2 and don’t know what I was fussing about in my previous post. Jumping Jacks with kettle bell? Use a lighter one or leave out the weight. Push up with weights? Easy - just look how the moderator has placed them. Quite a few swings but that’s ok. So it’s 5 for me now.

Was initially pleased with this video. Have done lots of exercise over the years. Warm up properly etc but, I always seem to injure myself after using this. Either, neck or back and now have pain in my heels (from excess skipping in my opinion) I won't be using it again. I will stick to Kettleworks for Women.